Valve.



No. 660,603. Patented Oct. 30,1900. H. H. TROXEL.

VALVE.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

Wiigcsses flaxel 11 8.1 1

I By wQAflmu yS UNITED STATES HARVEY H. TROXEL,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF woos'run, OHIO.-

VALVE.

srncinxoArlon forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,603, dated October 30, 1906.

Application filed August 9, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY H. TROXEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wooster,in the county of \Vayne and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Valve, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for ventilating shoes, and more particularly to a valve which can be placed in the shank of the shoe, whereby the desired ventilation may be so cured in a very efficient manner; and it consists in the combination and improved construction of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeral indicates a corresponding part in each of the views in which it occurs, Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a shoe provided with a valve embodying myinvention. Figs. 2, 3, and dare crosssectional views, showing the parts in different positions, Fig. abeing enlarged; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of my valve separated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the sole of an ordinary shoe the shank of which is provided with a perforation 2, extending therethrough adjacent to the heel. Fitting in this perforation is a cylindrical casing 3, the exterior of which is screw-threaded,and the outer end is provided with a flange 4:, which fits closely against the outer surface of the shank when the valve is in position. The interior of the casing is preferably of two diameters 5 and 6, the

' smaller of which is at the outer end and is screw-threaded. The inner end of the casing preferably lies flush with the inner surface of the sole of the shoe, so as not to interfere with the comfort of the wearer.

Fitting Within the cylinder is a plug 7, which is provided with a suitable air-passageas,forinstance, a slot 8-which extends nearly the entire length of the plug, the unslotted portion being provided with a flange 9, forming a head and adapted to engage with the flanged end of the casing and close the same when desired. The inner end or slotted portion of the plug is screw-threaded to engage with. the internal screw-threads of the casing and preferably project-s slightly into the enlarged portion of the casing when the serial No. 726.716. the model.)

head of the plug fits upon the flanged end of theorising.

The outer surface of the head of the plug is provided with a slot or kerf 10, by means of which the device may be screwed into the opening in the sole of the shoe, and the pe= riphery of the head may be milled, as shown at 11, whereby the position of the plug may be varied in the casing to regulate the airpassage formed by the slot 8. A cushion 12,

as of rubber, may be fitted on the plug below the head, as shown in Fig. 4, to assist in closing the valve when it is desired to prevent the air passing through the valve.

To prevent the liability of the plug Working out of the casing and being lost, I prefer to lock it in the casing after it has been inserted, which may be done by mutilating the inner end of the thread, as shown more clearly at 13 in Fig. 4. This mutilation may be accomplished in any desired manner, as by insert ing a thin-edged tool between the inner end of the plug and the enlarged portion of the casing and mashing the end thread down against the one adjacent thereto. By making the plug of such a length that its inner end will project a slight distance into the enlarged portion of the casing when the head of the plug flts against the flange the desired amount of ventilation for the shoe may be secured by moving the plug back and forth in the casing within the limits formed by the head at one end and the mutilated thread at the other.

In practicing my invention the plug is screwed into the casing as far as it will go and locked therein against removal and the casing inserted in the hole in the shank of the shoe by means of a screw-driver placed in the kerf of the outer surface of the head. After the valve has thus been secured in position the plug can be easily withdrawn from the casing the desired distance by catching hold of the milled portion of the head and unscrewing the plug. As the flange of the head is separated from the flange of the casing the air-passage through the plug formed by the slot is opened to a greater or less extent and the desired amount of ventilation is secured thereby. As thus described it will be seen that the foot serves as a pump to draw air in through the valve and also to force it and any foreign matter out that it may be desirable to remove from the shoe, the foot thus performing a double function. By thus drawing the air in and forcing it out of the shoe high temperature Within the shoe is avoided and the rotting and cracking of the leather caused by excessive perspiration are prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-'- A valve for shoes,comprising a tubular or cylindrical casing having exterior screw-threads extending from the bottom flange fully to the top portion thereof,.the interior of the casing having two diameters, the smaller diametrical portion being located at the lower extremity of the casingandhavingitsinterior Wall screw= threaded,the upper larger diametrical portion being unscrew-threaded, and a plug having a lower head and a slot extending diametrically through the shank thereof, the said shank be- Withdrawal of the plug from the casing, the

neck of the plug being exteriorly exposed and the screw-threads thereof protected to prevent a collection of mud or grit thereon when said plug is projected to open the slot therethrough.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY H. TROXEL.

Witnessesi EDGAR O. JEFFERIES, FRANK M. STEVENS. 

